EVANSTON, Ill. – The Eastern Illinois baseball team (15-29, 9-12 OVC) dropped a hard-fought non-conference game at Northwestern (14-30, 2-16 Big 10) on Tuesday evening. The teams were within two runs of each other the entire contest with a pair of lead changes, but the Wildcats were able to stave off the Panthers for a 9-7 win.
Following a fielding error, the Wildcats pounced into the scoring column first with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second inning.
The Panthers immediately responded in the top of the third, first with a bases loaded fielder's choice by
Quade Peters that scored
Luke Melton, followed by a three-run blast from none other than
Lucas Loos that put Eastern up 4-2.
After a solo home run by Bennett Markinson in the bottom of the third, Northwestern regained their two-run advantage with a three-run fourth inning that featured a two RBI double by Owen McElfatrick and RBI single by Jackson Freeman.
After a quiet fifth inning,
Trenton Pallas tied the game up with a two-run homer in the sixth. It was Pallas' second long ball of the season.
However, the Wildcats punched right back in the bottom of the sixth with a Jackson Freeman two RBI triple to recapture their lead.
After a scoreless seventh, the teams swapped a run each in the eighth inning to remain separated by two entering the final regulation frame.
The Panthers were unable to put a rally together In their final at-bat and succumbed to a 9-7 defeat.
Lukas Touma (1-2) was designated the loss despite giving up just one run with three strikeouts through 1.2 innings of relief work.
The EIU offense was again led by
Lucas Loos, who went 3-5 with a home run, double, and three RBI while adding a stolen base. Â
Michael O'Conor also recorded a 3-5 outing with a run scored.
Cade Zalewski was the other Panther with multiple hits, going 2-4 with a double.
Eastern will travel to Indianapolis on Wednesday for another non-conference game against Butler. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. EST/2:00 CT. The Panthers will close out their home schedule this weekend with a three game OVC set against Morehead State. Game one is set for 3 p.m. on Friday, May 10th.Â
